Welcome to the Archdiocese of Kampala! Find on this website information about the history of the diocese, its bishops (the Ordinary, Auxiliary, Emeritus), the main functions in the diocese, diocesan statistics, religious communities of men and women with their respective addresses, other institutions including seminaries, catechetical centre, hospitals and health centres, parishes, centres with resident priests, diocesan and relgious priests with their dates of ordination

Archbishop

His Grace Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga was born on 19th January 1953, at Kyabakadde, Naggalama, in the present Lugazi Diocese. He was ordained a priest on 8th April 1978 at Lubaga Cathedral by His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga. Appointed first Bishop of Kasana-Luweero Diocese on 16th November 1996 and ordained Bishop on 1st March 1997 at Kasana-Luweero. Appointed the third Archbishop of Kampala on 19th August 2006 and installed as the third Archbishop of Kampala on 30th September 2006 at Lubaga Cathedral.

THE AUXILIARY BISHOP:

The Rt. Rev. Christopher Kakooza. Born at Nsambya Hospital on 15th of November 1952. His parents lived at Lusaze, Kyaddondo County, in the Archdiocese of Kampala. He was ordained priest on 3rd June 1983 at St Mbaaga’s Major Seminary, Ggaba as one of the pioneer group of the Seminary and appointed Auxiliary Bishop on 30th January 1999. His Episcopal ordination took place on 17th April 1999 at Rubaga Cathedral.

His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala. Born at Kamaggwa, Masaka Diocese on 15th December 1926. Ordained priest on 21st December 1957. Appointed first Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana on 21st August, 1981. Ordained Bishop on 22nd November, 1981. Appointed Archbishop Co-adjutor of Kampala on 21st June 1988 and canonically took possession of the Diocese on 8th February 1990. Became Cardinal on 26th November 1994 and retired on 19th August 2006.

ARCHDIOCESE HISTORY

The present Archdiocese of Kampala is the result of territorial changes:

a. Victoria Nyanza Vicariate (1883)
The Vicariate Apostolic Victoria Nyanza was established by the Holy See in 1883 and was entrusted to the Missionaries of Africa commonly known as the White Fathers. Rubaga became the seat of the Bishop.

b. Upper Nile Vicariate (1894)
On July 13, 1894, the Holy See erected the Upper Nile Vicariate dividing it from Victoria Nyanza Vicariate and entrusted it to the Mill Hill Missionaries. Nsambya became the seat of the Bishop of that Vicariate. The name of Victoria Nyanza Vicariate was also changed to Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza.

c. Vicariate Apostolic of Uganda (1915)
After the erection of Vicariates in territories beyond the Nile on the southern side, the name of Northern Victoria Nyanza Vicariate was changed to the Vicariate of Uganda on Janaury 15, 1915.

d. Vicariate of Kampala
On June 10, 1948, the name of Upper Nile Vicariate was also changed to the Vicariate of Kampala which later became the Diocese of Kampala in 1953.

e. Archdiocese of Rubaga (1953-1966)
The Catholic Hierarchy in Uganda was established on March 25, 1953 and the Vicariates of Uganda became the dioceses of Uganda. Rubaga became an Archdiocese with 5 suffragan dioceses namely; Gulu, Masaka, Kampala, Mbarara and Tororo. The first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Rubaga was Archbishop Louis Joseph Cabana WF (1947-1960) who died in retirement in 1981. He was succeeded by Archbishop Dr. Joseph Kiwanuka(1960-1965)

f. Archdiocese of Kampala (1966-)
On August 5, 1966, the Holy See joined together a section of the Diocese of Kampala and the Archdiocese of Rubaga to create the Archdiocese of Kampala. It was covering most parts of Central Uganda. His Grace Emmanuel K. Nsubuga (later Cardinal) was consecrated on 30th October 1966 to become the first Ordinary of the newly created Archdiocese of Kampala. He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal on 24 May 1976. He retired on 8 Feb 1990 and died on 20 April 1991. He was succeeded by His Eminence Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala (1990-2006). Since then, three other new dioceses have been created namely: Kiyinda-Mityana (August 21, 1981), Kasana-Luweero (December 16, 1996) and Lugazi (December 16, 1996).

THE LINE OF SUCCESSION TO THE SEE OF FORMER RUBAGA DIOCESE (CATHEDRAL AT RUBAGA)